Testimonials

Thank you so much for being a part of another Fitchburg State Alumni Career Day event, I appreciate all that you put into your business-dining presentation. It’s a great way to finish off an exciting series of events for the students. I look forward to the next occasion we have a chance to work together.

As the students in our Leadership Fellows program are busy, we had to offer a seminar that would be well worth their time. Janet’s presentation about small talk and business dining more than fulfilled this requirement. Her presentation was entertaining and contained practical skills that are fundamental for building professional relationships. I knew the presentation hit home when students started practicing the conversation techniques as they left the hall. I would be happy to bring Janet back to offer this program to a wider student audience.

Janet’s professional-etiquette workshop was entertaining and full of practical content. Our graduate students come to the university from all over the world, so they are looking for information that is easy to understand and apply. Janet fulfilled both of these requirements with techniques that were clearly presented and easy to implement. In addition, her stories put key points into context, and her comfortable style encouraged student participation through role-play and discussion. I collaborated with Janet in advance to help develop a workshop that would meet the specific needs of our students, and it would be my pleasure to work with her again. Student feedback showed they enjoyed the workshop and learned skills that will help them project a confident, professional image as they pursue their chosen careers.

I have been to many workshops, but yours was the best! You gave us concrete, practical information. For example, other presenters told us to listen; you told us HOW to listen!

We could not have asked for a better teacher.

I enjoyed Janet’s interactive etiquette presentation at a Waltham Chamber event recently. Many at my table (including me) left with a list of notes. The interpersonal and non-verbal segment provided excellent skills for success.

Ms. Parnes worked with our Wellesley Cub Scouts Pack 140 to make an hour-long lesson that kept our boys entertained, enthralled, and yes, learning! She was a delight to work with, as she was eager to customize the program to meet the needs of Cub Scouts belt loop and pin achievements.

These achievements have specific requirements in the manners and etiquette categories, and we were able to get our first- through fifth-grade boys sitting with napkins in their laps, cutting their brownie stand-in for steak with knife and fork, and shaking hands and looking adults in the eye while introducing themselves. Our parents were thrilled and even learned a few things themselves! I highly recommend Ms. Parnes for a fun and educational evening in teaching our youngsters skills that they will use all their lives.

The dinner went very very well! I found it easy to remember all the etiquette tips we practiced. This helped me to feet confident and, thus, enjoy myself! I was especially grateful for our review of the toast, as the host offered some lovely words to welcome my husband and me. I was SO relieved that I knew just what to expect and what to do! So, thank you for all your kind help and for following up to see how the dinner went. I truly hope I have a chance to work with you again, and that my children can someday take one of your courses for kids!

Sooner or later most, if not all of our students, will conduct business over a meal. Ms. Parnes walked the students through a typical business meal offering essential information in an easy engaging style. And, as Minuteman programs focus not only on acquiring knowledge but also applying it, her hands-on approach was consistent with the way our students learn. Student feedback showed that they picked skills they will use and had fun in the process!

Janet’s business-dining workshop was informative and enjoyable! Our members are young professionals and college students, some of whom grew up in Taiwan, others in the United States. They were raised in traditional Asian homes and, thus, have had limited exposure to American dining etiquette. Janet presented essential information, taking the mystery out of proper business dining. In addition, her stories made the workshop entertaining and memorable!

Thank you for the wonderful presentation last night! It’s evident that you really know your material, and that you enjoy presenting as well. The seminar armed the students with tips and techniques to make their first impression a memorable one.

Thank you for helping to create a great event. Your hours of planning and attention to detail paid off with a well-executed event. The students enjoyed themselves while having fun and learning—mission accomplished. I also appreciated your flexibility with taking on comments from the audience and weaving them into the delivery of your presentation. It was a pleasure working with you and I hope we have the opportunity to work together again in the future.

The [business dining] Lunch & Learn was so much fun today! I could tell you were a hit, because people continued to talk about the luncheon in the halls afterward. Thank you for joining us, again!